from

$137

Florence

Cinque Terre Day Trip from Florence with Boat Ride

Free CancellationNew Tour

Visit Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso, and Riomaggiore on the Italian Riviera, all transport included

Free CancellationNew Tour

13 h


Max 50 Guests

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Want to explore the Cinque Terre Towns without the hassle? These beautiful, hard-to-reach villages are part of Italy’s hidden gems, but planning a visit on your own can be daunting. With this day tour, we take care of everything—round-trip transport from Florence, travel between villages, and a boat ride along the coast. You’ll enjoy free time to wander, relax on stunning beaches, and savor a Mediterranean street lunch in your free time, all without the stress of organizing it yourself.

What's included

English-speaking trip leader

Round-trip coach transport from Florence

Train tickets between villages

Boat ride along the coast (weather permitting)

Samples of Ligurian focaccia and fried seafood

Hotel pick up and drop off

Lunch

Guide tips

Itinerary

Meet your guide at Piazzale Montelungo bus terminal

Your day begins at the centrally located bus terminal, just steps from Santa Maria Novella train station. Board an air-conditioned GT coach and settle in as your trip leader introduces the day ahead.

Travel through Tuscany to the Ligurian Coast

Sit back and enjoy the scenic drive through rolling Tuscan hills toward the dramatic coastline of Liguria. Your trip leader provides insights into the region's history and UNESCO status while you watch the landscape transform from countryside to sparkling Mediterranean views.

Explore Manarola's medieval alleys

Your first stop is Manarola, one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Cinque Terre. After a brief orientation, you'll have free time to wander narrow medieval streets, admire pastel-colored houses clinging to cliffsides, and sample the local sweet wine, Sciacchetrà.

Discover Vernazza's colorful port

Next, hop on the coastal train to Vernazza, often called Italy's most beautiful village. Stroll through its charming harbor lined with colorful fishing boats, climb up to the centuries-old castle for panoramic views, and soak in the authentic coastal atmosphere before continuing your journey.

Relax on Monterosso al Mare's beach

A short train ride brings you to Monterosso, the largest of the five towns and the only one with a proper sandy beach. Take advantage of your free time to dip your toes in the Mediterranean, grab lunch at a local trattoria, or simply relax under the Ligurian sun.

Sail along the coast to Riomaggiore

Weather permitting, you'll board a boat for a scenic ride along the rugged coastline to Riomaggiore, offering a stunning perspective of the cliffs and villages from the water. If weather doesn't cooperate, you'll take the coastal train instead, which provides equally beautiful views.

Wander Riomaggiore's terraced streets

Your final village stop is Riomaggiore, renowned for its pastel houses cascading down to the harbor and breathtaking panoramic terraces. Explore the steep, narrow streets at your own pace, capture postcard-perfect photos, and enjoy one last taste of Cinque Terre charm before heading back.

Your tour finishes in Florence

As afternoon fades, meet your driver for the comfortable coach ride back to Florence. You'll arrive back at the departure point with memories of five magical villages, dramatic coastal views, and the unhurried rhythm of Italian Riviera life. Ask your trip leader for dinner recommendations to cap off your perfect day.

For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change

Select participants and date

Start times are in the product’s local time

Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance!

Tue, 29 Sep 2026

Meeting and drop-off point

Find your tour leader at the Tours & News kiosk at Piazzale Montelungo bus terminal. Further instructions will be provided upon booking.

Important Details

Good to know:

  • Accessibility: Due to uneven and steep streets in the old villages, this tour is not recommended for people with significant mobility issues or wheelchair users.

  • Weather Advisory: The scenic boat ride is strictly weather permitting and will be replaced with a scenic train route in case of inclement weather.

  • ID Requirement: Please bring a valid government-issued ID, as security or ticket verification may require it for the train and boat segments.

  • Please Note: Your trip leader will ensure smooth travel between stops and offer recommendations, but they are not a dedicated tour guide. Explanations may occasionally be given in both English and Spanish during the bus ride.

  • Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can depart on time.

Your 13-hour tour includes:

  • English-speaking trip leader

  • Air-conditioned, round-trip transportation from Florence

  • Visit the villages of Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare, with train tickets included

  • Scenic boat ride along the coast to Riomaggiore (weather permitting)

  • Group coach tour with plenty of free time

  • Light Street food lunch with samples of Ligurian focaccia and fried seafood

  • Maximum group size of 80 (GT Coach)

What to bring:

  • Comfortable walking shoes

  • Government-issued ID (for train/boat travel)

  • Water bottle

  • Sunscreen and hat

  • A light jacket (recommended in cooler months)

  • Swimsuit and towel (for time to swim from the beach)

See what people are saying

4.91

127 Ratings

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Great trip with beautiful scenery

Rick O.

Verified Review

September 24, 2026

We had a great time on our tour of Cinque Terre. Very beautiful towns and scenery. The tour guide was very informative of where to go in each of the towns and what to look at. It is a very long day! Make sure you take some time to just sit and enjoy the scenery (with a glass of wine of course ) instead of trying to see everything.

Cinque Terre day trip

Linda R.

Verified Review

September 19, 2026

Great time, tour guide was informative and seem to have as much fun as we all did!

Conque Terre

Edward S.

Verified Review

July 26, 2026

An absolutely amazing trip filled with magnificent scenery and Mediterranean coastal towns. The bus was clean and very comfortable and a tour guide guides Lucy and Leon we're very friendly and we're able to keep us on time and let us know when to get off the train. One suggestion would have been though to make sure that everyone was gathered before getting too far ahead of the group and starting to speak to only a small portion of the group. Overall an outstanding adventure and day trip that I would highly recommend!

Alice Y.

Verified Review

June 30, 2026

Great day trip to see four of the fishing villages in one shot. Boat ride between the first couple of villages were amazing as well.

Cinque Terrre

Matt W.

Verified Review

June 24, 2026

John was a great tour guide. Everything went so smoothly.

Mary

MARY C.

Verified Review

June 11, 2026

John was a very informative and professional guide. He provided helpful information and direction.

Cinq terre with ferry

Veronica S.

Verified Review

May 14, 2026

Beautiful coastal villages

Lori Z.

Verified Review

May 03, 2026

Roberto, our tour guide & Alda, our driver did well in plan B, planning our tour by boat after the first train cancellation in La Spezia. He was professional, efficient & worked progressively to keep the tour moving by boat & fulfilling the tour stops along this beautiful scenic & colorful coastline. The villages were colorful, artistic, full of beauty in architecture, art shops, cafe restaurants & plenty of shopping. The waters in these cliffside villages are spectacular! The most Clear blue turquoise waters with boulders & rocks that line the shores. I didn’t realize when I booked it that May 1 was a major holiday, so the villages were packed with visitors. I suggest choosing a better time outside of a major holiday. Otherwise, this area is well worth a visit.

Great content, guides, logistics need improvement

Kelly H.

Verified Review

April 10, 2026

Overall, the experience was good, beautiful location, but who ever is designing the tour logistics needs to think them through better. The bus ride is two hours, assuming no traffic, ours home was almost 4, and with no restroom. Given the constant lack of facilities at the location, a bus with a restroom would add a huge benefit to the guests. This one change would make a 2 star a 5 star because the location, guides, and content were excellent.

Amazing day!

Karen S.

Verified Review

April 05, 2026

We really enjoyed our tour through the towns of Cinque Terre. Each stop was enough time to explore and the tour guides gave great advice on where to go. I’d love to go back and spend more time at the beach at Monterosso, our favorite stop. Only note is that this website did not indicate that the boats do not run until April 1st, which was known to others who booked through other sites but not to us. Our tour was March 31st so we didn’t get to take the boat even though the weather was perfect that day. Just a warning to others. It was still a lovely day and the guides with Ciao Florence were wonderful.

Village Time Freedom

Clover M.

Verified Review

January 24, 2026

Great day trip! I liked having enough free time to explore on my own. Instructions were easy to follow. It felt safe and enjoyable throughout the entire day.

Changing Scenes

Ludwig M.

Verified Review

January 21, 2026

Lots of great sites and stops! Each stop offered different views and feelings. I liked comparing the villages. The tour made it easy to enjoy all.

Dirk D.

Verified Review

January 21, 2026

Colorful Village Charm

Fraser M.

Verified Review

January 17, 2026

The villages looked even better in real life than in photos. Time passed quickly but never felt rushed. Federico answered questions patiently and kindly.

Quiet Flow

Jatin M.

Verified Review

January 12, 2026

The day felt calm despite many stops. Everything flowed smoothly. I returned feeling refreshed and satisfied.

Maddox F.

Verified Review

January 08, 2026

Gentle Travel Day

Tallulah L.

Verified Review

January 05, 2026

This tour felt friendly and well balanced from start to finish. No rushing at any stop. Davide made sure everyone understood the plan and felt comfortable.

Kavya C.

Verified Review

December 29, 2025

Open Choice

Eberhard M.

Verified Review

December 28, 2025

The tour allowed time to wander freely. I liked choosing my own pace. It felt flexible and friendly.

Unforgettable Coast Time

Barnaby M.

Verified Review

December 18, 2025

The views stayed in my mind even after returning to Florence. We had enough free time to enjoy food and walks. Tommaso shared helpful tips quietly.

Esme C.

Verified Review

December 12, 2025

Sea Canvas

Ishita C.

Verified Review

December 05, 2025

The sea colors and village views were amazing. I enjoyed slow walks and photo stops. A truly lovely experience.

Sea Air Happiness

Xander R.

Verified Review

November 15, 2025

I loved sitting near the water and enjoying the fresh sea air. The views were calming. Emanuele kept the group organized and made the day feel smooth.

Monika C.

Verified Review

November 15, 2025

Larue B.

Verified Review

November 03, 2025

FAQs

Where to meet?

Find your tour leader at the Tours & News kiosk at Piazzale Montelungo bus terminal. Further instructions will be provided upon booking.

What to bring?

We recommend bringing a water bottle, sunscreen, snacks, and comfortable shoes. You'll also have some time to swim from the beach if you'd like to, so come prepared! A light jacket is also recommended in cooler months.

How long will we have at each stop?

At each village, you'll have about 1 to 1.5 hours of free time to explore, shop, try the local food, or even take a swim.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

That's up to you, since most of your exploring will be done independently. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the views if you don't feel like walking much. Please bear in mind that these villages are very old, with some steep inclines and uneven streets, so we don't recommend this tour for people with significant mobility issues.

How will I travel between the villages?

Your tour includes tickets for the local train between villages, which your tour leader will provide. Your final journey, to Riomaggiore, will be by boat, if the weather allows, otherwise it will be by train.

Is this tour run by The Tour Guy?

This tour is run by one of our trusted and thoroughly vetted partners in Florence.

Will we have a tour guide the whole day?

You'll be accompanied by a trip leader throughout the day who will ensure you arrive and depart at the right stops. They'll also have lots of recommendations of places to eat and explore at each village. While they are not a dedicated tour guide, they are knowledgeable about the area and will help ensure a smooth day trip through Cinque Terre.

Is lunch included in the price of this tour?

Lunch is not included, but you will have time to eat on your own at various points in the day!

Is there hotel pick up or drop off?

There is no hotel pick up or drop off for this tour. You will meet your host and group at the designated meeting point.

Is this a monolingual tour?

This tour is usually conducted in one language only, English. On some occasions, however, explanations may be given in two languages (English and Spanish) during the bus ride. Once you arrive at the destination, you will have a dedicated English-speaking tour leader..

Is the boat transportation always guaranteed?

For the safety of our customers, the boat trip will not take place in case of rough seas or choppy waters. In such cases, transportation will be provided by train, and no refunds will be issued.